Foam Rolling 1st time race week (Read 886 times)

juniordo1

posted: 9/6/2011 at 8:50 AM

I am planning to run a half marathon this coming Saturday, three weeks after my first half marathon. I have had a tight right calf and hamstring since my first race and all the stretching in the world hasn't improved the tightness. I have no doubts that I can still run 13.1 miles on it, but I was hoping to run this race a bit more aggressively and the tightness may limit that effort.

My question is this: Is it too close to the race to try something new like foam rolling?

You'll be fine, it can only help. Even if it makes you a little sore, I still wouldn't worry.

juniordo1

posted: 9/7/2011 at 6:41 AM

Thanks Sandi Sue and Tyler S!

I went out and bought a roller last night. I figured that the hamstring and calf weren't going to magically improve without trying something new, even during a race week.

My thoughts on the foam roller:

OUCH!!!!! I think the foam rollers could be used as a torture device!

I thought I only had tightness in one leg but my other leg told me different. Rolling the IT bands? Forget about it.

I have a little soreness in my calves this morning bu they have that "good sore" feeling to them and they are much looser today. My hamstring is still tight and I will revisit that with the roller after work today.

I will continue to monitor soreness/tight muscles and hopefully get to the line Saturday morning ready to attack the course.

Eventually that stuff gets rolled out. If the IT bands hurt, hammer them.

http://www.runningahead.com/groups/Indy/forum

juniordo1

posted: 9/7/2011 at 7:37 AM

beef,

I will definitely work on the IT bands. I had never had any issues with them and definitely did not enjoy the discomfort I experienced when I attempted to roll them out. I got one pass on each side and chickened out on additional passes.

If you don't have problems with them, ignore my advice--solutions in search of problems usually end up problems themselves.

http://www.runningahead.com/groups/Indy/forum

juniordo1

posted: 9/7/2011 at 7:56 AM

I will not likely re-visit the IT bands until after I race this week. Had I not foam rolled I would never have guessed the tension in the these areas. I agree trying somethin just to try it isn't always the best idea. Maybe others can chime in as to whether or not they think the tightness/discomfort when rolling the IT bands signal an injury waiting to happen.